Potluck for South Dakota

Reproductive Rights are being threatened in South Dakota. What can Kansans do???

Please join Students for Reproductive Rights and supporters for an evening of good food and company in an effort to repeal the South Dakota abortion ban, Hb1215.

The abortion ban in South Dakota is part of a larger anti-choice campaign that endangers all reproductive rights. We can do something by supporting grassroots efforts in South Dakota to fight the ban.

When: Sunday, October 1 at 5:30pm
Where: Ecumenical Christian Ministries (1204 Oread Ave. Lawrence, KS 66045)
RSVP: http://standupsd.com/page/event/detail/jws

Please bring your favorite dish to share!

Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2006

Louisiana Legislature, Governor Give Green Light to Criminal Ban on Abortion

Washington, DC— Today, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued the following statement in response to the Louisiana legislature’s passage of a bill to ban abortion. The ban, intended to take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned, would outlaw abortion in Louisiana in nearly all circumstances. The action comes less than three months after Gov. Mike Rounds (R-SD) of South Dakota signed into law a ban on abortion that supporters touted as a direct challenge to Roe.

“The Louisiana legislature’s vote to criminalize abortion and Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s (D-LA) recent statement that she would refuse to veto this attack on privacy is the next step in a campaign led by extreme anti-choice groups and their allies to overturn Roe v. Wade.”

“Louisiana’s legislators and Gov. Blanco are following South Dakota’s example which underscores that any assault on freedom and privacy has implications for all 50 states. And another 11 states have considered or are considering similar bans. This egregious attack on women’s freedom and privacy will not go unanswered. We call on voters to remember in November which elected officials stood up for our freedom, and which ones voted to allow politicians to invade our most private medical decisions.”

This latest episode also exposed that, in addition to criminalizing abortion, Louisiana’s politicians rejected a measure to improve women’s access to birth control. Last week, the Louisiana House defeated an amendment that would have allowed pharmacists to provide emergency contraception, often called the “morning-after” pill, by a vote of 22-80. Increased access to emergency contraception is essential in Louisiana, where only six percent of emergency-care facilities provide EC to patients.

BACKGROUND ON ABORTION BANS

In 1991, when Roe was under siege in much the same way it is now, Louisiana reenacted its unconstitutional pre-Roe abortion ban, which contained exceptions only for instances of rape, incest, and life endangerment, but not for other circumstances, not even to protect a woman’s health.

Before enacting a ban earlier this year to directly challenge Roe, last year South Dakota enacted a ban – similar to the bill just passed by the Louisiana legislature – intended to take effect if Roe falls.

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032
More information concerning LA:

92 percent of Louisiana counties have no abortion provider Louisiana

Political Info and Laws in Brief Executives Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) is anti-choice. Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu (D) is mixed-choice. Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. (D) is anti-choice. Legislature The Louisiana House is anti-choice. The Louisiana Senate is anti-choice. Major Political Party Platforms The Louisiana Democratic Party supports a woman’s right to choose. The Louisiana Republican Party opposes a woman’s right to choose. ANTI-CHOICE LAWS Abortion Bans Louisiana has unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal bans on abortion. Details » Biased Counseling & Mandatory Delay Louisiana law subjects women seeking abortions to biased counseling requirements and mandatory delays. Details » Counseling Ban/Gag Rule Louisiana prohibits certain state employees or organizations receiving state funds from referring for abortion services. Details » Husband Consent Louisiana has an unconstitutional and unenforceable law mandating husband consent before a married woman may obtain an abortion. Details » Other Anti-Choice Law Louisiana law includes an intent to eliminate the right to choose. Details » Physician-Only Restriction Louisiana prohibits certain qualified health care professionals from performing abortions. Details » Public Facilities Restriction Louisiana prohibits the use of public facilities for the performance of abortions. Details » Refusal to Provide Medical Services Louisiana allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide women specific reproductive health services, information, or referrals. Details » Restrictions on Low-Income Women’s Access to Abortion Louisiana restricts low-income women’s access to abortion. Details » Restrictions on Young Women’s Access to Abortion Louisiana law restricts young women’s access to abortion services by mandating parental consent. Details » Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) Louisiana subjects abortion providers to burdensome restrictions not applied to other medical professionals. Details » OTHER RELEVANT LAWS Post-Viability Abortion Restriction Louisiana restricts post-viability abortions. Details »

All information on this post was taken from NARAL